Log-barking apparatus



Jan. 29, 1929.,

H. w. GUETTLER LOG BARKING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,220

H. w. GUETTLER 1-206 BARKING APPARATUS Filed April 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 29, 1929. '3

UNITED STATE HERBERT GUETTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOG-EARRING APPARATUS.

Application filed April 26, 1926. Serial No. 104,607.

My invention relates to improved log barking apparatus in which the friction and abrasion between logs is taken advantage of to the fullest extent to cause thorough and efficient I! barking, and which will eliminate the use of knives, cams, drums, or other special barking tools and devices heretofore used, and the disadvantages resulting from the use of such devices such as damaging or wasting the wood.

In my improved apparatus successive batches or piles of logs are fedto a cradle structure which is then rocked to cause the logs to roll, rub and abrade against each other until the bark is removed. During rolling of the logs they are also sprayed with water, which will assist in the barking process and will also clean the barked logs.

The various features of my invention are shown incorporated in the structure illustrated on the drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevational view, more or less diagrammatic, of my improved appara-' tus; and

Figure 2 is a plan view.

A supporting frame or cradle C is provided for receiving charges of logs W and the frame is rocked or otherwise moved to cause the logs to roll back and forth thereon so that they will rub and abrade against each other to thus remove the bark. The supporting structure shown in Figure 1 is of generally V-shaped transverse cross section and comprises the supporting bars 10 secured at their ends to the rods 11 and 12, respectively. The rod 12 is journalled in bearings 13 so that the supporting structure may rock or swing vertically to cause the logs W thereon to roll back and forth along the bars 10 from one side to the other on the frame C.

The rocking frame is above a trough 14 which may be of concrete and into which the loosened bark falls to be carried away by a conveyor structure 15 running along thebottom of the trough. Above the rocking frame spray pipes 16 are supported to spray water onto the logs while they are being agitated and barked, the waste water flowing through screens 17 to the channel 18 below the conveyor structure from which channel it is conducted to the sewer.

Various means may be utilized for controlling the rocking or oscillation of the frame G. As shown, I have provided a crank structure 19 which may be driven by a suitable motor 20 through gearing 21 and which at its crank end is connected by connecting rods or links 22 with the rod 11 of the frame C. As the crank structure turns, the frame will be vertically reciprocated between the lower and upper positions indicated by the full and dotted lines, respectively. To balance the operation of the crank mechanism and the weight of the logs, a counter weight 23 is connected with the swinging side of the frame C by a cable 24 passing over guide pulleys 25.

Logs are fed to the rock frame from the inclined loading platform 26 extending from the conveyor 27 which brings the unbarked logs from storage or directly from the river on which they were floated. This charge of the logs from the platform onto the cradle frame C is controlled by a gate 28 hung from a shaft 29 above the platform and locked at its lower end by releasable latch mechanism 30. Upon release of the latch mechanism the gate 28 will swing away from the platform so that the logs collected on the platform may fall onto the cradle structure. After a discharge the gate is closed and a new supply'of logs collected on the loading platform from the'conveyor 27. Y

The discharge from the cradle structure is controlled by a gate 31 pivoted above the pivot rod 12 of the cradle frame and normally locked with its lower end above the rod 12 by releasable latch mechanism 32. The gate 31 forms an abutment for the logs when the cradle frame is raised and the logs are rolled down towards the cradle pivot side, as indi cated by the dotted lines on Figure 1. After the frame has been rocked sufficiently to effect removal of the bark on a charge of logs, the

latch mechanism 32 is operated to release the gate 31, and then when the cradle frame is raised the logs will roll therefrom down an apron 38 to a conveyor 3a to be delivered to other apparatus for further treatment.

As the cradle frame is rockedthe logs thereon roll back and forth with their bark surfaces in engagement and rubbing and abrading resulting will soon cause the bark to be loosened, worn off, and discharged from the logs, the bark falling through the frame into the trough 14: to be conveyed away on the conveyor mechanism 17. The water sprayed onto the logs will wash off the bark as it is loosened and will give the barked logs a thorough washing before they are discharged onto the conveyor mechanism to be delivered elsewhere. By utilizing the friction and abrasion between the relatively rolling logs,

the logs are caused to bark themselves and the complicated knife mechanism, cam mechanism, drum mechanism, and other structures heretofore used in barking machines, together with the expense of upkeep and repairs incidental thereto, can be entirely eliminated.

Having described my invention, I claim as follows 1. In log barking apparatus, a rockably mounted cradle for supporting logs to be T arked in superposed relation and in direct contact, and means for rocking the cradle, said cradle being free of all elements which would interfere with relative rolling move ment between the logs in direct contact with each other.

2. In log barking apparatus, a cradle of substantially inverted V-shapeadap-ted to receive .a charge of logs disposed-in superposed relation and to support the logs for free rol ling movement in either direction transversely of their length, said cradle being pivoted at one end, and means connected to the other end of the cradle for rocking it about its pivot.

In log barking apparatus, a cradle adapted to receive a charge of logs disposed in superposed relation and to support them for free rolling movement on the cradle and in direct contact with each other, said cradle being pivoted at one end, means for rocking the cradle about its pivot, a gate forming a closure at one end of the cradle for retaining the logs thereon, the cradle being shaped adjacent its other end to retain the logs thereon, and means for releasably securing the gate closed, the cradle acting to discharge the logs therefrom through the gateway when sald gate is released and the cradle is moved into its upper position.

4:. In log barking apparatus, a cradle of substantially inverted \i-shape pivotally mounted atone end for rocking movement, a gate above and. adjacent the pivoted end of he cradle for retaining logs thereon, means for releasably securing the gate in operative position, and means for rocking the cradle about its pivot, the cradle being disposed, in

its raised position, to discharge logs thereon through the gate opening.

In log barking apparatus, a cradle pivotally mounted at one end for rocking inovement,a swinging gate above and adjacent the pivoted end of the cradle, vmeans for releasably securing the gate in operative position, and means for rocking the cradle about its pivot, :the cradle being-disposed, in its raised position, to discharge logs thereon through the gate opening.

In log barking apparatus, a cradle pivot-ally mounted at one end for rocking movement, an inclined platform having its lower end above the pivoted end of the cradle, a gate at the lower end of the platform for retaining logs thereon, means for releasably s curing the gate closed, a cradle gate between the lower end of the platform and the pivoted end of the cradle and serving to retain logs on the cradle, means for releasably securing the cradle gate closed, and means for rocking the cradle about its pivot, said cradle being disposed when raised to discharge the logs therefrom through the cradle gate opening upon release of the cradle gate.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this22nd day of April, 1926.

HERBERT W. GUETTLER. 

